High street stores are slashing their prices in the final hours before Christmas in the hope of generating a last-minute buying bonanza.

Retailers have slapped up the red SALE signs early after complaining that trading in Cardiff this Christmas is down one per cent on last year - despite attempts to entice shoppers with as much as 70 per cent off regular prices.

And that's good news for those who've left their shopping late as the bargains line up on the shelves - and as high street stores pin their hopes on a bumper final weekend.

Among those offering discounts are:

Debenhams is holding a 70 per cent sale.

Howells is reducing selected lines by up to 50 per cent.

WHSmith has offers on most items, including half-price books, buy two get one free cards and money off computer games.

Topshop has reduced shoes.

HMV has sale offers on many CDs.

Tesco is offering as much as 20 per cent of clothing.

Cardiff city centre manager Paul Williams admitted trading this year had been very difficult.

'The build up has been a lot slower than last year,' he said. 'This time last year, sales were ahead by one per cent. People have been buying much later. We always get a rush in the last seven to 10 days before Christmas.

'But this year it's been five or six days.

'We're not sure if the weather has been to blame or whether the full shopping week has made people leave things more to the last minute.

'Some shops have taken the decision to sale items before others to hopefully capture more buyers.'

But he added the feedback he was getting from retailers was that things were improving. He expects today and tomorrow to be bustling with shoppers.

'There will be lots of bargains over the weekend,' he said. 'Cardiff is going to be extremely busy.'

Lots more shops are reducing their stock.

Kevin Landi, manager of Marks & Spencer in Queen Street, Cardiff, said he was expecting today to bring in record sales.

'We are expecting a massive day,' he said. 'It will be much busier than last year. People will want to get their shopping done on the Saturday so they can spend Sunday with their families.'

Ian Williams, general manager for Next in Queen Street, said there had been a lot of panic buying in the past few days. 'Trade has definitely been better the nearer we get to Christmas - more so than last year,' he said. 'We're expecting Saturday to be absolutely crazy.'